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According to data from the Confederation of British Industry, almost half (48 per cent) of retailers recorded a drop in year-on-year sales during the opening half of the month, while 31 per cent saw transactions increase.
This has resulted in a drop in the body's Distributive Trades Survey, with the balance falling from three per cent last month to -17 per cent in May.
CBI chief economic advisor Ian McCafferty warned that continued unemployment will result in "tough" future trading conditions.
However, April data notwithstanding, the figure is the least negative since June of last year and Mr McCafferty added that many retailers are "less pessimistic" about their present situation.
"The decline in demand now appears to be slowing compared with the turn of the year," he stated.
Earlier this month, the Office for National Statistics revealed that sales during April rose 0.9 per cent compared to March data.
